Spa Valley Railway Cuckoo Line Gala - June 13-15 2025

Not that long home from my second not quite full day at that amazing event.

And I can only endorse the very favourable comments posted above.

Truly incredible that with the constraints that @LittleRedTrain has mentioned - TWW being a 'tight site' and no run round at Eridge, such a packed timetable coud be planned and then operated.

I continued to work on the half dozen or so shots I want to get at the best quality to compare with some of the few 1962 photos I took at Groombridge.

Hopefully I'll be there tomorrow to make more progress. And to enjoy the coffee etc from the platform kiosk!

 

I like, Bryan, have not too long since got in from a great day at the Gala and I'll agree with his @LittleRedTrain and @Phil K about the packed timetable, even more so today where services were able to keep to time (or only running a few minutes late but being made back up and I was there from just before 9 until 18:30) and it never felt too long before another train came in.

Managed end to end runs behind all the steam locos and a couple of brakevan rides behind '34050' and the 33, didn't get a run behind the Thumper though. Finally got a good look around Groombridge and enjoyed the Cuckoo Line information boards, my Grandad used to live in Hailsham and we walked the old route to Hellingly a couple of times when I was younger, which was why I was so interested in this event, someone also seemed to be setting up an impressive looking model railway in one of the buildings on the NR platform at Eridge.

Another little bonus was '41319' had a brief little run beyond Eridge to the track limits towards the site of Redgate Mill Junction.

Many thanks to @Jonnie and everyone else involved for putting on such a great event. Here's a few pictures and I'll probably post a few more on another post.

 

CUCKOO LINE GALA – FATHER'S DAY SUNDAY 15TH JUNE!

DISCOUNTED FARES FROM 12:00 AND KIDS FOR A QUID ALL DAY!

On Sunday, 15th June, you can enjoy a cheaper train ride if you're visiting us for the afternoon and still enjoy all the action of the Cuckoo Line Gala. Kids travel tickets are £1 all day.

From 12:00 until 19:00, the following fares will apply:

Adult – £16.00
Child – £1.00
Family (2A+2C) – £34.00

The last up service of the day from Eridge will feature 41313, 80078, 31806 and 34050 all leading the service back to Tunbridge Wells West.

No need to pre-book but if you'd like to then you can via our website: https://www.spavalleyrailway.co.uk/product.php/7451/cuckoo-line-gala

 

Thoroughly enjoyable two days at an excellent gala. One day of riding and one day of photography. Lots to edit but here’s a couple of samples.

 

A few more pictures from yesterday.

 

Some photos from today

 

An amazing event that largely went to plan on a very clever and action packed timetable. Very many thanks to everyone at the Spa Valley Railway for planning and then operating such a fantastic three day Gala.

I'm exhausted after three long days, but have made time this evening to sort three photos from today. The first is today's Groombridge Station Master, one of the guys who make my visits to that station so enjoyable, standing alert outside the ticket office to make sure all is well as 31803 heads through on the o9.30 Eridge. Then this afernoon and evening 80011 and 31803 head the 15.30 Eridge past Groombridge Junction, before all four steam locos make a smoky approach to the junction on the 18.30 Eridge.

Bryan

 

It's hard not to echo other peoples comments but there simply isn't any other way to say what a great gala this was. Full of action, lots of work behind the scenes to get all the locomotives to the line and then reguise them into their scrapped classmates, and that was just from what was seen from the lineside. Congratulations and a big thanks to @Jonnie and all involved at the Spa Valley for an enjoyable weekend which I hope turned out to be a good return for you all, helped of course by the excellent weather we had. It was a hot one filming in the near constant sun on the lineside, so I daren't guess how much hotter it was on the footplates (especially the Bullied!). Action from the lineside on the Friday and Sunday of the event:

 

Don't under estimate yourself, or put yourselves down! A lot of the so called premier league railways are in the their own eyes, but not so much in others! I'd much rather have a small stable railway than a big one that can't get the books to balance.

Keep up the hard work!

 

Superb footage, much enjoyed. Many thanks.

Bryan

 

We were stood next to each other photographing 31803, the first of your photos!

Bryan

 

Some footage from the Saturday of the event, great effort from all involved and always nice to see some scrapped classmates recreated from time to time!

 

Great weekend, good to see the Spa busy. 41313 and the 33 were class.

 

You may have been the “old guy” I spoke to in that case.

 

My video from Saturday, we had a brilliant day, huge thanks to everyone involved, I really hope the event was a success for the railway! The timetable meant there was never a moment when nothing was happening and all the various loco recreations and named trains made for great interest. We took a round trip from Eridge in the morning with a break at Groombridge, returning to Eridge in time to watch the U leave and then followed that by car to High Rocks before parking again at Groombridge and taking the DMU to Tunbridge Wells West and return with filming all in between. We finished the day by driving home 'via' Eridge to watch 41313 leave. Really was a superb day out, photos to follow...

 

May have been, I believe I may now count as being an old so and so!!

I spoke to so many people on that bridge - plus passers by, that at present I can't recall our chat.

Bryan

 

Very atmospheric. The scenes at Groombridge in particular, really come across very well. And at 16.03 there is even a glimpse of a gricing owl exchanging a brief acknowlegment with Jonnie as he brings 34059 into the station from TWW!

Bryan

 

Was very brief whether it was you or not. The usual giveway regarding me is I normally have my big, daft dog with me but given the heat, I left her at home.

 

Heres my best attempt at piecing together three days worth of intensive action at Spa. Very glad to hear that other people have also had very good experiences regarding this gala. The atmosphere lineside was overwhelming positive, and a great time spent with friends. Seems like the tunnel being reopen has gotten the Heathfield community talking as everyone I’ve spoken to here is singing the Spa’s praises in holding such a great event. Walked past the tunnel this morning and have to say it looks weird now without any promotional banners on it! Hopefully won’t be too long before we can go back in there again.